LARNE are “in it to win it” this season says Crusaders manager Stephen Baxter after the big spending Irish Premiership new boys continued their impressive start to the season with a 2-2 draw at Seaview yesterday.
Baxter’s Crues had taken an early lead through Philip Lowry before the seasiders took the lead with goals either side of half-time through Jonathan McMurray and Sean Graham. David Cushley’s 78th minute pile driver earned a point for the league leaders and Baxter said a draw was “a fair result in the end”.
“It was a great game of football,” said the long-serving Crusaders manager.
“Both teams went at it although it was very tactical in many ways. Both teams came out and passed the ball well and opportunities presented themselves. A draw was definitely a fair result in the end and it was a good game for everyone.”
Larne may still be cutting their teeth in the top flight but manager Tiernan Lynch fielded an experienced line-up at Seaview yesterday that included former Arsenal midfielder Mark Randall and former Sheffield United defender Graham Kelly who, like team-mates Shane McEleney and Lee Lynch, has represented the Republic of Ireland at underage level.
“You have to take into consideration the investment that Larne have put into all of this,” said Baxter.
“They haven’t come into this league thinking that they’re going to be afterthoughts.
“They don’t sign players of the calibre they have to not be challenging to win it and when you enter into a campaign you should be trying to win it. We knew their capabilities, we knew the quality they would bring to the game and we didn’t underestimate them.
“It (the result) is not disappointing for me because you have to think on your feet. We were behind in the game and we had to come from behind to get a point. Ultimately you have to take what you’re given.”
After winning their first three games, Saturday’s draw was the first time Baxter’s men had dropped points this season. They are still top of the pile with Dungannon Swifts (their next league opponents) in second and Larne third.
“Linfield have only played two games so far because of their European run so you have to allow for that,” Baxter pointed out in reference to the unfamiliar look at the top of the table.
“But we’ve seen already that teams are capable of beating each other. We’re only a few games in and teams have beaten each other, taken points off each other already. There’s no team with maximum points and I think that says a lot about how this league is going to be this year.
“I think teams are going to be very capable of pinching points off each other and I think we’re going to see a tighter league which can only be good for the game.”
Baxter’s men face in-form Dungannon Swifts – who made it three wins on-the-trot after their 2-1 victory over Glenavon on Saturday. The Crusaders boss hopes to have Colin Coates available for the top-of-the-table clash against Kris Lindsay’s men.
“Colin had a bit of a twisted ankle and we took him off as a wee bit of a precaution but I don’t think it’s anything we’re over-concerned about,” he said.
“Apart from that we’ve a clean bill of health. We’re still waiting on Jamie McGonagle to make his full debut but the knee injury that he came to us with isn’t fully healed and until that’s right we’ll not risk him. It’ll probably be another two weeks before we see Jamie fully fit.”
